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Friday was quite a day for General Hosiptal’s five-time Daytime Emmy nominated actor, Jason Thompson (Patrick). The talented fan favorite was celebrating his birthday, but also preparing to shoot his final scenes as Dr. Drake and wrap-up his incredible ten-year run.

As previously announced, Thompson had make the decision earlier this fall to leave the ABC soap opera and not re-sign with the show. Now all that was left was to continue to turn in his usual rich and compelling performances, and wrap up Patrick’s story, and say goodbye to his colleagues that he has come to love. Not an easy task.

In a touching post today via Jason’s Instragram account, he related the ups and down of his emotional final tape day, and having his birthday all rolled into one! Juxtaposed with beautiful imaginery, Thompson said in his post: “Yesterday morning. Nov 20th. 5:55 am. It was my birthday and also my last day of playing Patrick Drake on GH after 10 years. It was a long, emotional, exhausting, thrilling at times overwhelming day, and I am so grateful for every one of those moments. Change can be exciting and scary all at once. Shake it up..see what comes out. Thank you for the Birthday wishes. Thank you for the well wishes. See you soon.”

So with that said: one of the finest actors of the genre has left the building, which is so bittersweet for many viewers. While they wish Thompson could always be a part of the canvas of GH, they also know: he deserves good story, is multi-talented, and know that the sky’s the limit for the rest of Jason’s career whereever it may lead him.

Share your thoughts in the comment section below knowing Jason wrapped at GH. How do you hope, or think, Patrick will be written off the canvas? What did you think of Jason’s sentiments shared in his post?

I’m sad that the only main character doctor is leaving. GH is supposed to be centered at a hospital. But, only one of its major characters are employed there – Elizabeth. All the others are secondary & rarely seen except for filler moments – Brad, Lucas, Monica, Kevin Collins, the new psychiatrist, Dr. Obrecht. They really need Sarah Webber back. When it was most popular, GH was very progressive. Two of the female leads were doctors (Monica & Lesley) & the hospital had female admins (Gail & Audrey).

A loss indeed. This was one hell of an actor! His scenes have run the gamut. He will likely leave the canvas without his much deserved EMMY award, however, with his ridiculous good looks he will be.hesded to the big screen!

Have come to love the character Patrick Drake and will miss him terribly. Watching him for the last ten years has been the best. Wish him well and will follow. GH loss will definitely be some other venue’s gain.

A fine actor has left the building. I was really enjoying his work lately and sorry to see him go. I quite enjoyed his scenes with Kelly & hope GH doesn’t kick themselves when Jason & Sam’s chemisrty doesn’t hold up. I believe GH is at fault for this actor wanting to leave. Good luck Jason!!

However Jason/Patrick leaves I doubt it will be highly dramatic. The writers have never mastered intriguing exciting drama, but nonetheless I’m sure it will be a tearjerker and remembered..
I will really miss him
I liked all his scenes, he is a very talented actor and he will do very well.

There is nothing good about his leaving, well one good thing I will never have to see Robin, again lol ..

I doubt the character/Patrick will be recast.. there is nothing in Port Charles for the Patrick role..

They’ve done lots of block taping w/ some story lines due to actor availability.

Cathy replied November 22nd, 2015 at 3:42 am

Robin is GH history and can come back ANYTIME. She didn’t need Jason Thompson as Patrick to return to GH. Many, like myself, love to see the beautiful talented Kimberly as Robin come back . She was on GH long before Jason Thompson and Robin can visit Anna anytime. I wouldn’t miss ANY other GH women characters and specially the new ones brought to GH under RC.

It will be sad to see JT leave. He’s a talented guy but it it will be good for him to spread his wings. Frank et al seemed more focused on giving their hires the meatier storylines, so he languished. Hopefully, he’s off to a better opportunity elsewhere. However, to suggest that Robin, a character with a 20 year history prior to arrival of Patrick, can’t return is foolish. History has shown, on more soaps than just GH, that stories and audience numbers seem to resonate when history is used, provided the writing is good. So I hope that the show with continue to use characters from the past such as Robert, Robin, Scott, Lucy, Bobbie, Felicia, Mac in their telling of Port Charles tales.

Timmm replied November 23rd, 2015 at 12:23 am

I’m with you. I love Robin and her and Emma can come back if need be. Emma should have NEVER been split up and away from her mother! Kim gets a bad wrap sometimes. She has dedicated MOST of her life to GH!

su0000 replied November 23rd, 2015 at 3:50 am

hey Timmm..
Kim left, her decision to leave.
IF she had taken Emma with her then Brooklyn/Emma would be out of work, no pay check..
That would have been nasty lol

I wish Jason Thompson well in whatever is next in his future.
Please don’t kill Patrick off – let him leave with Robin ( I’m assuming Kimberly is making a brief return for that reason ).
No mention of Emma so I’m going to assume again they’re keeping her on the canvas….just don’t age her.

I really hope not. He needs to at least try to do some prime time work before considering joining another soap. I’ve been dying to see him in a period drama, like Masters of Sex, but he’d totally work on a musical show, like Nashville.

I agree with you on wanting to see Jason on some primetime too, but u have to look at this reaslistically. He was single for a long time but recently got married. Hes moving into a new home as we speak, just announced they are expecting twins in the spring. Do you really believe he would quit GH with a stable income and go out job hunting? Or take a very lucrative job offer from the no.#1 soap in a main role????

Chrystie_Delancey replied November 24th, 2015 at 12:45 am

I hope you are right, Eileen!

You make some very good points. Y&R NEEDS him. I always loved him when he was part of Scrubs. He was the heel that made you root for him because he changed his ways. He would be such a breath of fresh air on Y&R from the stale Billy we have dealt with for way too long. Nothing against Burgess Jenkins, but he was miscast as Billy.

Y&R could get rid of the dead weight: Joe, Summer, Kyle (already recurring), Marisa (et al), Sage, Sharon – what on earth have they done to her?! Is she just destined to be the new crazy Patty?

Jason, if you read this, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your excellent portrayal of Patrick. You made the show much more enjoyable for me. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your story with Robin immensely. Your early romance and marriage before they ruined it. (the original story when Kimberly was there every day. I hate this back and forth nonsense and the stupidity of what they are doing now- but that’s not your doing). There are so many aspects of Patrick’s story and your acting that have made the show. I understand why you are leaving. They have ruined his storyline and you have even less on the horizon with Sam possibly going back to Jake/son. I hope you will go on a nighttime show rather than another daytime. I don’t watch any other daytime shows since the idiots got rid of AMC and OLTL and Prospect Park failed. How about Grey’s Anatomy. I can see you as a new doctor there. Maybe a lawyer for the hospital? Movies? Regardless, I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world. Best wishes

I’m sad to see Jason Thompson leave. Patrick is a great, fully-rounded character and Thompson truly put his stamp on the show. I have no idea how I’d want to see him written out. I’m just very disappointed he’s leaving. The show underutilized him this past year and it’s a great shame. I wish Thompson well and hope to see him on screen again soon.

I fell in love with the baby-faced dancer in the Gap swing dance commercials in the late 90′s, handcuffed to a bed in “Undressed,” and finally landing in Port Charles! There is something about this man . . . and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to watch him grow and thrive in my favorite of mediums. Many times his portrayal of Patrick Drake brought me misty-eyed, even tearing up. What a fine-fine actor!! I’m sorry to see him go. I wish him the best in whatever he does , but most of all comeback when you’re ready!

GH is fast becoming a home of talentless actors…im not a big Patrick fan but JT was a lot better actor than most on this show…the writers just couldnt seem to write a good story for him…Robins comings-and-goings kind of stagnated his character!…mho

hi Jimh..
Jason was built into Robin..
They were written to be not exchangeable ..
When Kim/Robin left she took Patrick with her, the Patrick charters was dead in the water without Robin, what a shame what a waste.

They were actually never written that way, until Ron Carlivati took over. Patrick was brash and cocky at first. Even after they fell in love, Robin and Patrick maintained very distinct identities, opinions, and personalities. Robin was looking for a sperm donor to impregnate her when Patrick didn’t want children. Even after they were married, Patrick cheated on her. I believe just prior to Cartini taking the reins, Robin’s death from HIV/AIDS was already written. That could have been a ground breaking, epic finale to the character of Robin and their love story that would have allowed Patrick to realistically move on. Even not going that route, there was enough baggage and emotional fractures in their relationship that would have allowed for a believable break up. Instead, Ron wrote yet another presumed dead storyline, and proceeded to have Robin held against her will and tortured for the better part of three years. That was completely due to Carlivati’s inability to tell a story based on REAL, human emotion, devoid of ridiculous soap opera tropes and contrivances. Rather than tell a story about how careers, or HIV, or infidelity, or a little of all of that could wreak havoc on a couple, he chose to have daytime’s only HIV positive character kidnapped and tortured for no reason. SO glad he has left the building!!

Shay replied November 22nd, 2015 at 10:36 am

Robin’s situation may have “stagnated” Patrick, but Sappy’s influence absolutely killed the man….drained every ounce of joy and masculinity from the character. Whilst Sam as a love interest was not a bad idea, in theory, it was simply a case of too little, too late to save Dr. Drake’s image and restore him to his former glory as a leading man on the Port Charles canvas. For shame, for shame, GH….to lose the talent of three major male stars in less than a year’s time certainly doesn’t bode well for the show’s future, especially if the show runners think they can rebuild the program with a slew of, as you put it, jimh, “talentless” types! Not gonna happen. Adios, Patrick/Jason…it’s been real!

You know I agree with you, Shay. Who would have thunk little Miss Sappy could be such a ball buster?
After his run with her, he then becomes engaged to Sam whose every other word is Jason, Jason, Jason. “Have I mentioned Jason?” Because Jason, Jason, Jason” says Sam to Patty. Sam actually had the unmitigated gall to ask Patrick if it would hurt their relationship if she chased after Jason.

Paul, once upon a time I would have agreed with you about Howarth but as of late he’s just phoning it in like a bad sitcom actor. How long can I blame bad writing for his bad acting? And I always thought that Stafford was an overrated scene chewer and whose mannerisms and gestures are so wild and reminiscent of an adolescent which suggests that she may be overcompensating for her lack of acting ability. While I am not a Carly fan, I do agree with you that Laura Wright is fabulous as is Finola Hughes and Genie Frances. Then you have the actress who plays Jordan who cannot even read her lines without flubbing it up. Forget about her bad acting, she cannot even recite her lines without screwing it up.
In any case, Jason Thompson was always a consummate pro and despite the crap they threw at him, he always gave his all and rose to the ocassion. He will be happier at Y&R. Michael E Knight has mentioned in interviews that the work environment is far more welcoming and friendly than the work environment he experienced at ABC. I suspect Steve Burton will agree.
Interesting that he may be the new Billy Abbott once played by Billy Miller who now plays Jason. There’s almost a sense of a sweet smell of revenge in the air.

Jimh(leave it to beaver) replied November 23rd, 2015 at 2:04 am

You know Sappy didnt do that to just Patrick…she did it to much of the show as well!

Paul replied November 22nd, 2015 at 1:57 pm

A home of talentless actors? Ha. Not so much. There may be a few clunkers but the show is rich with talented actors: Laura Wright, Michelle Stafford, Roger Howarth, Finola Hughes, Genie Francis, Tyler Christopher to name a few. And GH has 2 of the best child actors in soaps right now with the kids playing Emma and Nicholas. Jim, I think you might be confusing the show with another that recently aged all of their kids and replaced them with wooden acting students.

Paul..
I will add- Maura, Maurice, Jane, and the list of phenomenal GH actors goes on, the most talented cast of the soaps.

Timmm replied November 23rd, 2015 at 12:31 am

I agree with you Paul, there is far more talent on GH than not. The problem is the show is littered with too many useless or untapped characters! Your a smart fan so I dont have to name names.

Shay replied November 23rd, 2015 at 6:23 pm

You got that right, jimh! And now that the Sapster has shagged her way into the Q Manse, she’s ruining the clueless Mikey, all whilst carrying Carlos’ gangsta sprog. I certainly hope someone in the Corinthos camp–Sonny, Carly? I’ll bet on Carly…..– can actually count and it finally dawns on one of them that Sappy is too far gone in her gestation and trying to pull a fast one over on their gullible son, even though with a certain amount of hesitancy so as not to tarnish the show runners’ insistence on continuing the farce of a notion that she is still a good, decent character, albeit one with two unwed pregnancies under her belt!

Wow..So much hate for Sabrina here, I just don’t get it, and she is not even a villain..What the hell does she have to do with Jason Thompson leaving and the poor writing his character has gotten in the last year..Geez Shay, you are very passionate about this..It is just a show..Your hatred for this “latina” actress playing a “latina” character might be a reason why this bothers you so much

su0000 replied November 24th, 2015 at 4:12 am

hey Omar..
The Robin lovers have to hate poor Sabrina, why? well because she is not Robin and how dare Patrick be in love with her, he is Robins..
It’s jealousy stuff lol .. hate the other woman thing..

Shay replied November 24th, 2015 at 4:46 pm

Hey suuuu!!!! Not all of us were motivated by “Robin love” in our less than enthusiastic reaction to Sappy. I, for one, would have happily accepted Patrick with Britt, Liz, Sam…..or most any other suitable female that crossed his path. For me, it was purely all about the fact that Drake Jr. and “The Sapster” were a ludicrous pairing in a ridiculous storyline. Got it???? Good!!!!

Best exit I can see is that Patrick and Robin are BOTH presumed dead, and Emma is taken in by Anna to raise. It would keep Emma on the canvas to grow up like Robin did (thinking her parents were dead), and would be the only conceivable way Patrick would not be there for his daughter. But no shots of Patrick and Robin trapped anywhere, just a presumed death, leaving them off canvas until one or either of them is willing to return long term.

Also forces Anna into a better place, needing to be strong to care for Emma the way others cared for Robin when Anna was presumed dead. Lots of symmetry there, it would work well.

It is about time that he decided to leave GH. GH stuck him in two horrible pairings. Robin is the one woman for Patrick. GH owes Scrub fans a HEA. That is the least they can do after purposely trying to ruin Robin and Patrick for two horrid pairings of Patrick after Robin.

I can’t blame him for leaving, given the lack of a storyline he’s been given since KMc left. However I am going to miss JT on GH. I loved the friendship of Patrick anx Elizabeth. Loved his relationship with Emma and what a great father Paddy is. I know it will be a hard recast but I kinda hoping GH goes that way in some time. I don’t think it will be the same without Patrick Drake. but if they are not recasting I hope they give us our Scrubs happy ending. cause one things for sure… they better not be killing off my Paddy

Wish JT the best. I hope he’s headed to YR. they desperately need a good Billy and JT is amazing.

I’ve always been a huge fan of #Scrubs! Loved him when he first started. He & Kim had that special connection, and that’s why I loved their story. I’ll miss seeing him as Patrick. Wish him the best of luck in whatever brings him next, and i’ll follow him there. Hope #Scrubs will get their HEA…Best scenes with Robin!! Heck yeah!!!

I’m really sorry to see Jason go, but it’s the writers’ fault for not giving him enough of a storyline since Robin (more or less) left. I agree that Patrick and Robin were better together, but they still could have written him better storylines after she was gone. I wish him much good luck in whatever acting gigs he gets in the future! My big concern with him gone is what will happen to Emma. I hope she stays with Anna; she’s such a talented little actress! Best wishes, Jason.

IMO, Patrick Drake should have been single for over a year while he dealt with Robin’s death and being a single father to emma. Patrick could have stumbled back into his bachelor days with random hook ups with various women before he fell for Dr. Sarah Webber only for Robin to return during the couple’s engagement party. Sabrina was way too immature for someone Patrick’s age.

Such a loss. Truly one of the show’s best actors, sacrificed for Jason and Sam and the mob storylines. JT deserved so much more, and I hope he finds it elsewhere. My expectation is that Scrubs gets its “happily ever after,” which I suspect is a major reason why Kimberly is returning. If that is true, I will be delighted that the ending for Drake Jr. is as meaningful and satisfying as it should be. But why did it have to be? Why couldn’t this show have written for this outstanding leading man? I will never understand the bizarre choices made by this show, except to note that the ratings reflect those choices.

wishing him well; there were more twists & turns that his storyline could have taken but he has been under utilized for quite a while on GH — wish he could have stayed around to see what the new writers could have done with his storylines but an opportunity arose and it was time to move on & try something new….don’t look back once decision is made!!!!

Jason will truly be missed. I wish him all the blessings that God has for him. As far as his character “Patrick Drake”, I think he will leave Port Charles due to his obviously broken relationship with Sam. I think the door will be open for a possible re-cast.

I think he simply couldn’t bring himself to outlast the Jason story line. The story underscored his relative value to the writers and to the show itself. Another missed opportunity here as Patrick and Elizabeth were the obvious go-to couple when Robin left town. More and more I am preferring the version of the show that I write in my head while I endure the version they are broadcasting. The genre desperately requires new blood in the writing department instead of the endless recycling of failed and fired writers from show to show. Having said that, long live GH!

He was a good actor but his character was ridiculous and served no real purpose to the story.

su0000 replied November 24th, 2015 at 4:15 am

hi Eileen..
And that is one of the reason I luv Dunkleman, he had no involved purpose he was easy fun to watch, entertaining and unusual, no ties.. he came and left..
I miss him

DYLAN replied November 25th, 2015 at 10:47 am

It’s official, Su. Now I know you are only on this board to piss people off and mess with their heads LOL. Thanks for making it clear and obvious, and you are very good at it! Any post that includes the words Levi Dunkleman and well-written in the same vicinity as “I miss him”…..LMAO. Ya okay. Keep doing what you do, bro! I can finally laugh at your posts!!!!!

JT is heading out of GH and into Jabot! It should be great. He is a really good actor and he has proven if he gets good material he can shine! People are obsessed with JT looking like Billy Miller so he can play Billy Abbott. Its BS, It wont be a distraction when you put him in the room and he goes toe to toe with Amelia, Eric and Peter!

As for his departure from Port Chuck, I see him and his family leaving town happy and content. Little Emma can appear from time to time to visit grandma.

I admittedly wasn’t crazy about Jason Thompson or the character of Patrick when he first showed up on GH, but he certainly won me over many times over in the years since. Jason grew into one of the finest actors in daytime, and has really been one of the stalwarts of the show in recent years, in my opinion. It’s a shame he never got any Emmy gold to validate his tremendous work. But to be nominated 5 times is a very impressive accomplishment, no matter how you look at it.

He’s definitely leaving a big hole in General Hospital, one that I hope they don’t attempt to fill with a recast. I would have a hard time seeing anyone else playing Patrick at this point.

I thank him for his 10 years of Dr. Patrick Drake, and I wish him the best in whatever lies ahead for him.

This is a loss for GH. I suppose a recast down the line is possible. Wondering if we will get a happy ending (finally!) for Scrubs and Emma and they will leave Port Charles to save the world with their incredible medical knowledge and experience.

I agree with earlier post that notes Dr. Drake is the star doctor and his departure minimizes the hospital which is the center and heart of the show (or should be). I would welcome the return of Tom Hardy now or a new medical team. I do miss the older doctors (Monica, Lesley) that could remain vital to some interesting outside-the-mob, outside-the-spooky sci-fi stories of recent years.

Even though it’s sad to see Jason Thompson bid goodbye to GH, at least he’s leaving the show on his own terms….unlike Michael Easton, who had no say in the matter of Dr. Silas Clay’s hasty departure from the Port Charles canvas!

I will miss him terribly!! I absolutely loved Sam and Patrick. It really sucked that they spent so much of this year talking of nothing but Jason. I hope Patrick and Robin ride off into the sunset. That’s the best outcome for Emma. That young girl has suffered enough and should be reunited with her parents. She can return to PC later on as a teen or adult.

I certainly hope the role is recast. I wish JT the very best and would enjoy seeing him again on another show.

GH needs Patrick Drake to represent the sane aspect of the hospital, heaven knows Dr. Obrecht can’t do it. In fact, the show needs to concentrate more on the hospital and less and less on the criminal elements of Port Charles. Of course, that will mean that the weepy, whiney, clinging Sam McCall will have to become an instant nurse so she can once again be front and center.

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